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Honda BF 150 2009 SHIFT into Reverse Problem

G

Gradyandwhaler

New member
My 2009 Honda BF150 (I just installed) starts in gear, and won't shift into reverse. Control shifter works fine when disconnected. It is as if the engine indexing is 'off'. When you shift by hand (from the motor, w/o controller connected), and put it in neutral, the neutral switch engages, and it starts. BUT it's in forward gear. So you shift by hand to reverse, and it goes to neutral.
QUESTION: I've read on other forums that when people change impellers they may not align the shift shaft right. Is that what happened on this new-to-me motor? Is there any way this could have happened otherwise? Is the fix just to drop the lower unit and realign the shift shaft? Thanks!
 
Well, I don't know. I don't work on these. But I do hang out here alot and read so I can form an opinionated guess based on posts I've read here about this very thing.

First, I will show you a depiction:



Check out items 18 and 12

The shift shaft quadrant teeth needt be "timed" or centered with each other.

What seems to happen is that people working on the outboard....for various reasons....get those teeth separated and then fail to get them back into proper alignment.

I have read that it's not always easy to line them back up. I know that several have posted different approaches to getting things back together correctly

There have been posts here where guys have figured out how to easily put the lower shaft (item 12) back in alignment without doing any major disassembly.

I don't know and can't tell you the details but I do remember reading that turning everything upside down makes it possible to easily line the lower quadrant back up and drop it in place.

I hope one of those people see your post and give you some input on how it's done.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Good luck.
 
Thanks--BTW just now, the guy I bought it from texted that it's possible one of his mechanics would have reinstalled the lower unit with the shift shaft misaligned. Says its a 30 min job to drop and realign. But if that doesn't fix it, then your diagram with the toothed shift sprockets may be the next, less pleasant option. Appreciate the advice.
 
As jgmo said items 18 & 12 may have become disengaged when the lower unit was reinstalled if the lower shift shafts were not aligned correctly & the unit was forced up.
The first & easiest thing to check is that circlip #52 is in place(can be seen without any disassembly), & if not then that is likely your problem.

Bob
 
Thank you JMGO and BobMech you were exactly right. Original problem: Previous installer didn't have the flat spot on the lower unit pointing forward. THEN at some point, somehow must have used raw pliers to twist the shifter, mushing the little splines ever so slightly. Result: This, in turn, when it was reinstalled, forced up the shifter shaft. Which bent the Circlip / E-clip #53 -- Which allowed the shift shaft to push upward so the little shift gears wouldn't engage right. Solution: Needed to dremel down the squished splines, and then remove and unbend and reinstall the E-clip #53.
Morale of the story: When you drop lower unit, don't forget to put shifter in neutral, and point the shift shaft flat spot forward. Then don't force things upward when tightening the lower unit bolts. Once engaged, check there isn't any binding by shifting out of neutral, and seeing if prop engages correctly.
 
Back to the drawing board-SHIFT PROBLEM STILL BF150-I ran the boat in the water, and now the shifter gets held up in forward and neutral (not able to shift into reverse) w engine running - shifting from engine with the controller detached. I think pressure on the gears or shift shaft while running, puts just slightly more pressure when trying to shift. As JMGO noted, it apparently is the small toothed shift pawls number 18 and 12. I believe somehow they must have gotten misaligned when the seller pushed the shift shaft up too far. My local mechanic said it requires removing the powerhead. Not worth it for a 15-year-old engine.

QUESTION: might it be possible to somehow remove the front cowl lower cover to access? Then push down and realign the gear # 12 attached to the shift shaft from the front of the cowl. Perhaps with a screwdriver or pry. Just push it down a couple millimeters so it doesn’t jump the gear teeth on 18 and 12. I am guessing that #12 "SHAFT A, SHIFT 24610-ZY6-000" is bent.
Is it worth trying to straighten up?
Honda BF150 Shift Shaft diagram.png
 
Not sure about the BF150 but I believe on the BF130 you can remove #20 & then re-align #18 & #12, without removing the powerhead.
 
bobmech said:
Not sure about the BF150 but I believe on the BF130 you can remove #20 & then re-align #18 & #12, without removing the powerhead.
Click to expand...
That would be great! Anyone have any experience on a BF150 realigning the shift shafts by removing that cog #20? Appreciate this. Fingers crossed.
 
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